The End of the 2021-22 School Year

Emmy was the first to finish up school - on Thursday, May 26th.

The kids got their candy grams on Thursday - because Emmy was done and Friday we had plans right after their half-day.

Lucy and Jonas finished up at 12:30 on Friday, May 26th.

Lucy and three of her friends, and Emmy and one of her friends, spent the afternoon on Friday at Taviwach. It was hot and so a perfect day to spend playing in the water, eating popsicles, being with friends, etc.

Miles is still working on a few classes and will be through the summer. . .  So no jumping picture of him, yet. But I did do a candy gram for him.

Here are there candy grams:

Miles,

Congrats! You have every “Riesen” to celebrate - you are (almost) done with high school!!! We now consider you a “Mega Smartie” as you’ve excelled in your high school courses - including AP Bio, Honors Chemistry, and College Algebra. Unfortunately, you never found any “Sugar Babies” (nor even dated), but we have high hopes for you in college. You proved you were no “Butterfingers” as you climbed your way to state - and, at state, continued to climb up in the ranks and just do an awesome job there. It’s been such a “Treat” watching you grow and learn all these years and we are so excited for your new and amazing adventures that await you at BYU-I!

Jonas,

Wahoo, you are officially now a “Junior”! (Well, assuming you, ahem, pass all your sophomore courses. . . ) Mom and dad were always encouraging you to get your homework done “Now,” while you always retorted with a “Later.” (We’ll see, ahem, how that works out for you . . .) You had a fun year and, more often than not, looked like a “COW”boy going off to a rodeo - rather than a boy to school. You always had 1,001 “Reese’s” why your grades were what they were (“The teacher hasn’t graded my work yet,” was a favorite). You lived for “Payday” - until you, ahem, didn’t get them anymore . . . Hmmmm, let’s hope next year is a bit, ahem, better! You can do it, we know you can!

Emmy,

Well you are now done with all the “Fluffy” schoolwork as now your grades officially count! “Donette” let that worry you - you are smart and know how to push yourself hard and so you will do great in high school! It was kind of a “Dum” year in some ways having to deal with all the “Dum” middle school drama - but you survived and will be the better for it! We loved watching you in your school sports and are excited to see you participate in high school cross-country. You’re no “Turtle” that’s for sure! “Beuno” job in finishing up middle school - now on to higher places!

Lucy,

Time to go “Nuts” - you’ve finished up 6th grade! Even though you were a “mini” 6th-grader, you excelled and loved middle school and your friends there. It was your first and last year of being a “Brave” and now you’ll be a “Bear!” You had a lot of “Fun” times at school - especially when you got to be with your friends (Lila, Payton, and Ruby). It’s “Bean” a great year and we’re excited to see what you do in 7th grade!

Miles

 

"Dear Miles,

You know me better than I know you. In fact I don't you at all. Hopefully you will have gotten a very rare coin like the 1795 or 1794 silver dollar by the time time you get this. My friend's are Seth, Malachi, Josh, and Sarah. I hope you know these people, too. Did you know that scientists think that you will have clothes that change color, read books, and change textures? Milk cans will tell you if the milk is expire, your kitchen will e-shop for you, and you will have cleaning robots. If you haven't invented the wind-powered car, look at the blueprints on the other page. Also, if you have not invented the $17.63 coin, look at the picture at the left of the page. Do you like to draw? I do. I think that you will have lived during World War 3. Have you started using three-cent pieces? I think you should get marred at age 22 and start dating at age 16. Try these classes: math, cooking, and science. I think you should have four kids! Also get good grades! I end this letter with a warning: don't drink, smoke, or do inappropriate things.

From the person you know the best, Miles James Maxwell

P.S. If there are time machines, send me a letter that says Skeem! Sent it to me on 5-6-15 and put it in the mailbox at 601 N. 4th St. Montrose, CO. If time machines are invented later, write the date and then send it!"

Seven years ago (5th grade) Miles' GATE teacher had him write a letter to his future self - his future graduating senior self. :) We just received his letter, drawing, this picture, and a note from his teacher this past week. How adorable.

Miles graduated from seminary:

We just got Miles' senior pictures taken last Friday. Of all the days, it had to be the coldest and rainiest that we've had in months, ha. But it worked out and I love the pictures. I will share some (i.e., a ton) here for fun.

I don't know if I ever posted about Miles' "new" car?! Well, here it is. A 1953 Pontiac Chieftan. Luckily Miles isn't using this one as his "daily driver." More of a hobby project. Miles still has his Mini Cooper. But he's been working on this and we'll see if he ever gets it to drive . . . It is quite cool, though!

Miles is all done with his public/Montrose high school classes. He took his AP Bio exam a couple of weeks ago and finished up with the rest of his finals at the high school last week. He didn't go to the Montrose high school's graduation - but Jonas did, ha. We watched it online for a few minutes - but graduations, in my opinion, are pretty boring . . . Miles did attend a "Safe" graduation party that night - that's what it's called, "Safe" or something like that. It's sponsored by parents and involves no drinking, etc. Just fun games and hanging out. Miles stayed until the end - 2am. He had fun and won $40 and an air compressor.

He's not officially done, however, with high school as he still has BYU classes to finish up. He'll finish those up over the summer - and then we'll officially announce/celebrate his graduation!

Black Canyon Ascent 2022 with Emmy

Well it had been two years since we'd run this race and so we both had amnesia about how horrible it is. I mean, I know it's bad. You just forget it's that bad until running miles 3-5. Ugh, so hard! Why is it so hard?! Emmy ran it unofficially in 2020 when I organized one during the pandemic. So this was Emmy's first official time running it. We both PR'd - yay! Emmy cut off about 10 minutes from her time and ran it in 1:15:58. 1st place in her age division (she was the only one, ha - which also shows how cool she is)! I ran it in 1:07:09. Which is a good 5 minutes faster than my usual time (I am always right around 1:12. Like always. But I've been training on some hills and pushing myself . . . and, yay, it paid off!) I got 1st place in my division as well - but there were only 4 of us. However, I think my time would have still placed me first in a year where more runners race.

Pre-race. I look old and ugly. :) Emmy looks young and beautiful.

See, young and beautiful! Oh well, I was faster. Haha, hehe.

Go, Emmy, Go! She looked so good and strong coming in and I was so proud of her for just doing it and for crushing her old time. She did tell the volunteer that it was her first official time running it - and her last. Haha. But I doubt it . . . she'll be back. 

Yay, all done!

They took a picture of all the age-division winners but haven't posted it yet. As soon as I see, I'll put it here. 

Here are their pics (which are kind of horrible):

Winners - yay!

This girl. She's got a lot of drive and knows how to push herself hard. She's so impressive! And strong!

It's so tempting for me to never do this again because 1. It's the worst race I ever do, 2. I don't know if I can ever beat and or get close to my time again, and 3. 1st place is hard to beat! :) So we'll see . . . 

Mother's Day 2022

 

The Mother's Day Walk with everyone . . . 

Here are the questions asked by Ben and answered by the kids (oldest to youngest):

1. If you had to take mom out on a date, what would you do to impress her?

Make jokes, idk; go somewhere that she would like and not sigh - the most expensive place; I would sing her a song out in the public declaring my love towards her; I would fly her to Hawaii and she could pick her restaurant

2. What is something you can do better than mom? What's something mom does better than you?

I can climb better than her, but she can cook better than me; snowboard, cook; I am better at short-distance running but she is better at long uphill running; Um . . . look like me! And mom can do most everything better than me

3. How are you like your mother?

We look very similar physically; shorter than most people; People say I look like her and I want to be her when I grow-up; I'm short and have big thighs

4. What makes mom laugh?

Does she laugh? Bella being stupid; nothing; When people are really being dumb or stupid; Um she barely laughs! So I don't know

(Wow. It's hasn't been really fun(ny) these past few months that's for sure!)

5. What do you think mom wants you to do with your life?

Go to college and get a job that makes me happy; Be responsible and successful; I think she wants me to live a good life, keeping to the gospel but also live my life the way I would want to; Go to BYU and marry some nice, hot Mormon dude and make right choices

6. If you could buy mom anything, what would you buy for her?

happiness; [blank]; I would buy her kitchen supplies because she's always in the kitchen; 1. a new pug, 2. a new awesome set of earrings, 3. a whole mall!!!

7. What does mom like about our house? What does she dislike about our house?

Mom likes how our house is unique, but she doesn't like the location [I do]; the old style/look, how messy it always is; She likes the style and she does not like how messy it always is; She likes . . . . um . . . maybe our kitchen! She hates our daisy room table

8. What musical would you like to see your mom star in?

Idk, the Muppets; Hamilton; Hamilton; Hamilton

9. What is one simple thing you could do to make your mom happy?

What she asks me to do; get work done on time and be responsible; be kind to my siblings; do as she says

10. What is your mother's favorite color?

White?; don't know; green; yellow

Some Catching Up!

 

April 2022. Goodbye. You weren't my favorite month.

The girls had a "home meet" on May 7th. It was a smallish meet (well for the Gold and Platinum levels) and so the pressure felt a little lower, which is always nice! Emmy invited her YW leaders and one came - along with her husband, the bishop. So that was fun. Ben was also able to come and he hasn't been able to make any of Emmy's meets and so that was a bonus for us all. Both girls did well! Emmy had her one and only fall (during a competition) on the beam, but still received a good score. Lucy's bars wasn't a great score, but still managed to get her 2nd place on bars (that's what you get with a small competition pool). But the girls still looked great and both managed to get 1st all-around (plus other firsts in other events, but I don't remember them all). What's important is 1st all-around, haha. They had a good time and it was a fun way to end their competition season of 2022.

The Champion Sisters:

The carnival was happening that weekend. My kids really like going - even though it is expensive. It's worth it to them! The kids all went, most of them a couple of times, and enjoyed the ride. A professional photographer took this picture of Lucy and her best-friend Lila and posted it on some Facebook page. Adorable.

Emmy finished up her track season at a meet in Gunnison. I had the day off and so decided to go. It wouldn't have been a big deal if there wasn't road construction/closure happening meaning that the hour and a quarter drive home would be a 3-hour drive home. Waaaaa. But it was her last one and I hadn't been able to make the other two, so I had a very long day . . . It was fun watching her - but not fun when she was upset-crying after her mile - she wanted to PR and didn't. She competed in the 400m and got 2nd in her heat (not overall). She also was in some medley and her team got 2nd. She had fun just hanging out with her friends, once she got over her disappointment in her 1600m (the mile) run. I think her best mile time was 6:48. At Gunnison she got 6:52.

Phone pictures of her pictures. :) All in all, she had a fun season!

Lucy's Gold State Gymnastics Meet

 Lucy's state meet was held in Lafayette, Colorado - somewhat near the Denver area (about an hour from Ben's parent's home). She was scheduled for Saturday, April 23rd. Ben and I were both going to go and watch her, but due to naughty kids (Jonas) and girl-drama (Emmy - she was on the receiving end of some pretty lame friend stuff . . . ), I decided I should stay home. I super missed watching Lucy at state, but also knew I had been to every single other meet she has ever had and so it would be okay. It was special that she got Ben (Dad) to herself . . . She was a little bummed when finding out I wasn't going to go, but then I think she forgot all about me and just enjoyed the weekend!

She and Ben left on Friday evening and had wild, snowy weather on their drive. But they made it and all was well. We had asked Ben's mom to help arrange someone to do Lucy's hair on Saturday morning and so a cute YW from the ward came over and did up Lucy's hair. It looked awesome and Lucy was happy with it.

Then she, Ben, and Jim headed out for her competition. Lucy had really good scores for her - and even ended up with her best all-around of the season. She ended up placing in only one event - but it was a FIRST on the balance beam. How cool is that?! (My mom reminded Lucy and I that I, too, had placed 1st on the balance beam in my state competition way back when.) Of course Lucy would have liked to have placed in more events, but it's hard to do so at state. So she was pretty darn thrilled with a Gold. :)

Getting her hair done at Grandma and Grandpa's house. :)

All ready to go and show-off some of her hard work! :)

Grandpa and Dad - Lucy's fan club at the meet. 

Lucy's GOLD medal earned at her GOLD state competition. So awesome!!

Ben missed Lucy's bars routine (well missed videoing it), but here's her videos from the meet. Ben's camera quality is not so great . . . (Well I am having trouble uploading her videos . . . not sure if it's because they are from Ben's camera . . . but I will keep working on it!)

Well I got one to upload here so far . . .